Hamond had to admit that he was worried about Nela.

  That outburst had been so unlike her, he wanted to stop and ask the now-sullen Elefae what was going through her head. Then again, he had a fairly good idea what it was, and could not blame her. There was no other way to look at what Myron had tried to do without thinking the man was a complete fool. You reveal this years-old arranged marriage, and then do something like that?

  Given that he was struggling with how to bring up the topic of Kalvarel right now, it was better if he kept out of it. Let the two of them talk it out later, when they weren't worried about fighting the knights. That is, if Edeline had the sense to do the same. Hamond hoped she had at least that much sense.

  Shaking off the thoughts, he knocked on the door. "Just a moment!" Centurla called out from the other side.

  Hamond glanced back at Nela, then shifted in place as they waited. Thankfully, they did not have to wait long, as the door swung open. "Greetings," Hamond said.

  "Oh, you two. Was thinking it was one of the girls...though they would have probably called my name by now. Come in, come in." Centurla ducked out of the way, and the pair entered. "I was sewing up my son's tunic. He tore it the other day, somehow."

  "Children will be children," Hamond said with a nod.

  "Where are they, anyway?" Nela spoke up.

  "They're out playing," Centurla answered, "I'm really glad you left that girl with us. Udeola's in such a better mood with someone new around her age to run around with."

  "And Astorel?" It was good that whatever dark mood Udeola had been in had passed, Hamond thought. Although, given what they had to say, several other people might have their moods worsen in turn.

  "A couple of the people from Verdan wanted his help with something. As a healer, no less." Centurla's smile widened as she took her seat at the table, on which the tunic she'd been working on laid. "It's good for him to be back at it. Not hiding who he really is...we really owe you all so much."

  "It's no problem," Hamond answered.

  "But enough of that," Centura briskly replied, "You came here wanting something. Astorel told me you know about the tunnel, so do you want me to show you where it is?"

  "No, we're planning on another approach," Hamond explained, "But we are entering Kelshir today, and there is a likely chance we may not make it back tonight. Could you look after Jelinia?"

  "Tonight, or ever?" The smile faded from Centurla's face as she stared at them.

  "Uh, what?" Hamond was thoroughly confused. He looked over at Nela, who was shrinking back. Wait...she had been talking to Astorel yesterday. "What did you tell him?"

  "I just...I thought we were in agreement we weren't staying?" Nela stammered, "We...wouldn't be able to take her..." She trailed off.

  Hamond buried his face in his hands. Aether, between Myron and Nela...he was so tempted to tell them they should stay here, if only so he didn't have to deal with either of them again. Not that Edeline would ever agree, but...that pair needed to work out their problems, and soon.

  Centurla sighed. "I keep forgetting that you're all dealing with your own issues. Maybe we really were asking too much of you young folks. None of us are perfect, are we?"

  "No," Hamond said, admitting he probably shouldn't judge. "Not even me."

  "I can see if anyone else is willing to take her in. We don't really have the space here, but I know a couple of families that might."

  "Thank you," Nela said softly.

  "Don't thank me yet," Centurla replied, "She's not going to take it well if I drop this on her. You'll have to tell her yourself."

  "I know." Nela looked down at the floor. "That's why I was hoping she was here. Then I could...tell her..." She sniffed.

  "Admit it, you don't want to part with her either, do you?" Centurla said, her smile returning.

  "Yes." Nela's answer was so quiet, Hamond found himself briefly wondering if he had imagined it.

  "Oh, I almost forgot. I did have a question for you." One of Centurla's hands shifted over idly and started pinching at her son's tunic. "Is there a reason you didn't give Jelinia an Elefae name when you performed the First Ascension for her?"

  Nela took a shaky breath, clearly still rattled. "At the time, I forgot," she said, continuing to look down. "And with everything that happened, I didn't have a good moment to ask her about it. Not that I'm one to talk, with my name and all."

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  "You'll still need to ask," Centurla pointed out, "She deserves at least to make the choice herself."

  Nela didn't say anything

  "If she doesn't come back soon, I suppose I can pass the message of you leaving along," Centurla said with a nod. "Thank you again for all you did. However, I really need to finish this up, so if there's nothing else..."

  "There is one other matter," Hamond said, readying himself. "There is something we weren't entirely honest about."

  "Really?" Centurla raised one thin eyebrow.

  "It's about Kalvarel." Centurla's eyes narrowed at Hamond's words, the smile vanishing again. "The truth is...we knew full well who he was."

  "How? And where?"

  "The town we came from...where I had lived, and so did he." Hamond paused, still hating what he had to say. "For a time, I even called him friend."

  "So, the same as us here then?" Centurla's expression softened. "And like here, it didn't last."

  "He had his own plans, ones that left many people hurt...many people dead. I had no choice but to stop him." Hamond closed his eyes. It still hurt. "I killed him myself."

  "After I punched him right in the face." Nela's voice took on a growling edge.

  "I..." Centurla trailed off, gritting her teeth. "Ancestors. Were...they right? Was he a traitor?"

  "I'm not sure. I know he had to have worked as one of the Spellking's agents before, going by what he said. And yet...his claimed goal was more focused on helping the Elefae. But...I don't think either of those were really what he wanted. He was in it for himself, to claim the glory of being the savior of the Elefae."

  "Instead we had to save people from him," Nela added bitterly.

  "I knew his hand in writing, so when I saw the note, I knew it had been him. But he never mentioned your sister, not once, so I had no idea of that. Given how much else he hid from me, I can't be sure." Hamond shook his head. "It could be that memories of your sister still haunted him. But we'll never know now."

  Tears started to run down the Elefae woman's face. "I guess...that's how it is."

  Indeed it was. Knowing what he knew now, Hamond had to consider that the time watching Lord Kelshir repeatedly disrupting the Elefae lives here had played a role in making Kalvarel bitter, twisting him into the threat he would become. And for all of it, his legacy was dead bodies and painful memories, the resulting chaos in Hallowscroft and Edeline's one pointed ear.

  A cruel and dark legacy. One that the world was better off forgetting.

  "Oh...curse it all! Now I've gone and really made a mess of this!" Looking over, Hamond realized Centurla had inadvertently used her son's tunic, the one she'd been working on mending, to wipe her face.

  "It should dry," Nela said.

  "Yes, but I can't work on it again until it does. That'll have to be tomorrow." Centurla let out a frustrated groan.

  "Like you said, none of us are perfect," Hamond noted. Although his mistakes weren't quite as spectacularly bad as Myron and Nela's, but...no. Stop that.

  "I'll do it then." Laying down the tunic on the table, Centurla rose to her feet. "So, how long do you have to wait for-"

  The door behind them opened, cutting the woman off. "Mother, do you have-" Udeola stopped as she saw Nela and Hamond there. Jelinia was behind her, looking upset. Or rather, she had been looking upset, because the girl's expression brightened so quickly once she saw Nela.

  Hamond stepped aside, giving the pair of girls room to come stand by the table. Nela stood still, visibly hesitating on what to say. Even if he wanted to help her, this was her problem to solve. Jelinia would not listen to him with anywhere close to the same respect that she gave Nela.

  "Do you have a moment?" Udeola finally said her question. "Jelinia caught her sleeve on a branch, and needs it sewed up."

  "Were you over near the walls again?" Centurla asked, moving around the table to see to Jelinia's clothing.

  "Uh..." Udeola flushed, the embarrassment of being caught obvious.

  "I told you not to go over there." Centurla scowled. "Your father is going to have words for you later."

  "It was my idea." Jelinia spoke up, stepping between Udeola and her mother.

  The look on Nela's face...incredible was the only word Hamond could come up with to describe it. Mouth wide open, a stunned stare directed at Jelinia. Yet more consequences, Hamond would wager. The realization that Nela's own brand of defiance might have been passed down in a few short days was now striking hard.

  Centurla snorted. "What in the ancestors am I supposed to say to that?" The woman cast her eyes up to the ceiling as she spoke, as if the answer would be written there. "Anyway, I can't mend the tear without her taking it off, and we don't have anything spare that would fit her."

  "Neither do we," Hamond admitted. It was true that Jelinia was slightly taller and heavier than Udeola, likely due to being a bit older. Maybe Udeola's clothing might work, but it would be tight at best. Well, being only a torn sleeve, it was something that could be lived with. There were worse things you could do to a dress or tunic. Nela had shown that back in Verdan.

  He wasn't the only to realize such. "You'll have to make do for now," Centurla said.

  "Alright," Jelinia answered, then turned to face Nela. "What are you doing here?"

  Nela was trying to compose herself, but Hamond could tell it wasn't working that well. "I...wanted to tell you something. You know how we're going into Kelshir?"

  Jelinia nodded.

  "We...may not get back tonight. You'll have to spend tonight here with Centurla if that happens."

  "You're going to go deal with the knights." Hamond had been expecting a protest or Jelinia begging Nela to return safely, not a simple stated understanding of what was happening. Right, this was the same girl, who on seeing the body of her dead mother, had kicked the body in frustration. Hamond had almost forgotten.

  "We will. And we will come back. I promise." Nela swallowed. "May the grace and glory of the Fae go with you."

  "That's...something elves say, right?" Jelinia straightened up, holding her head high as she looked at Nela directly. "Then may the grace and the glory of the Fae go with you too."

  "That's right," Nela said, clapping one hand down on Jelinia's shoulder. "Be good for them. Don't sneak off, you hear?"

  "I won't," Jelinia said with a solemn air.

  "Then we should go," Nela told Hamond, before turning to Centurla. "And the grace and glory of the Fae go with you too."

  "Indeed," Centurla said, "Good luck."

  Hamond nodded. He was already going over what spells he might use for the fights ahead. Be they with the knights or the city watch, the right one would be needed. He'd already ruled out the ones that were loud or showy - once they got through the gate, they would need to avoid attention.

  "You going to just stand there?" Nela asked from the doorway.

  Hamond sighed, and headed for the door himself. He'd just have to figure it out on the go, and hope their gamble would pay off.

  Kelshir awaited.